Elevator apparatus



, Jan. 16, 1940. J. A. SCHEUTZ ELEVATOR APPARATUS Filed 001:. 25, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sumter Jan. 16, 1940. J. A. scHEu'rz 2,137,283

I ELEVATOR APPARATUS Filed 001:. 25, 193'! 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 23 I Zinnmtor I 7 56% Scfeufg.

(Ittomegs Patented Jan. 16,1940

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

for example, aged or crippled persons, invalids,

and persons aillicted with rheumatism. It is particularly adapted for use in association with a bath for ordinary bathing purposes, sitz baths.

or other health baths incurring partial immersion of the body.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an elevator apparatus for lifting persons from a position adjacent a tub or the like, for transferring them from such a position to a position over the tub, and for lowering them to the desired extent into the tub. 7

Another object is to provide such an apparatus with means for operating the same whereby the person to be so moved may control the operation of the apparatus. To this end, the apparatus is provided with manual means for operating the same whereby persons, incapacitated only as to the lower limbs, may raise or lower themselves from a position alongside a tub to a position over the tub, or vice versa.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character above mentioned which may be actuated, if desired, by power means. The power actuating means is desirable in use of the apparatus in hospitals or such institutions inasmuch as it enables attendants to quickly and easily place incapacitated persons into and out of a bath.

Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the type above referred to with means for supporting persons in either a sitting or reclining posture.

With the above and other ends in view, the invention consists in mattersmore particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a detail;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental elevation illustrating a power device for operating the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of an attachment for supporting persons in a reclining position, and

Hg. '7 is a side elevation of the attachment.

Like characters of reference are employed throughout to designate corresponding parts.

Avertlcaltubular standard I hasabaselsecured'to the floor I adjacent to a tub l. Movable upon the column i is a traveller i having an arm 6 pivotally connected thereto at 8a and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom. ,On the extremity of the arm 5 is a platform or seat 1 adapted to receive and support a person.

At the upper end of the column i is a rigid 5 bracket 8 and a screw ii is rotatably supported in the base 2 and bracket 8, parallel to the column. An internally threaded bushing i0 is connected to the traveller 5 and received on the screw whereby rotation of the screw raises and i0 lowers the traveller, according to its direction of rotation. On the upper end of the screw 8 is a bevelled gear ll meshing with a bevelled gear I! on a horizontal shaft i3 journalled in the bracket I. The shaft i3 also carries a sprocket i4 and 15 an endless chain l 5, trained over the sprocket ll, extends to a point within reach of a person sitting upon the platform 1.

In using the apparatus above described, the arm 8 is swung to the position shown in broken lines, in Fig. 5, and the person to be moved is seated on the platform 1. The chain i5 is then operated to rotate the screw 9 and elevate the traveller, thereby lifting the person to a height enabling clearance of the sides of the tub l. 25 From the position alongside the tub, the arm 6 is then swung to carry the platform over the tub. This may be done by an attendant, or in case the apparatus is being operated by the person so moved, handle pieces it are provided. These handle pieces are mounted on the traveller 5 and extend within convenient reach of a person sitting upon the platform I. After positioning the platform I is positioned over the tub, it is lowered to the desired extent by operating the chain It.

In Fig. 4 there is shown power means for raising and lowering the traveller. This means comprises a reversible electric motor I'I, having suitable controls IB, mounted adjacent the vertical 4 column la, and having a bevelled gear is on its drive shaft meshing with a similar gear 20 on the screw in. The power means is more particularly adapted for use when the apparatus is used in hospitals and such institutions. It is not intended that the power means should be self operated, but it is obvious that it might be if the controls were placed within reach of a person on the platform I.

The platform 1 has a bolt hole 2i, in addition to the other apertures shown for the purpose of water drainage. An auxiliary platform 22, adapted to support a person in a reclining position, is adapted to be secured upon the platform I by a bolt 23, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 7. 5i

- vertically extending screw -specific embodiments of the invention have been What I claim is: 1. In apparatus of the character described, an upright stationary post, a traveler surrounding said post and movably mounted thereon, a platform carried by and pivoted to said traveler, a

for raising and lowering said traveler, a shaft rotatably supported on the upper transverse to said screw, gears operatively connecting said shaft and said screw,'and manually operable means to rotate said shaft. 2. 'In apparatus of the character described, an "P 8111; post, a mounting supported on the upper end of said post and extending laterally therefrom, a shaft iournaled in said mounting, a subtially vertical and rotatable screw, gears operatively connecting said shaft and said screw, a traveler jmovably mounted on said post and having a threaded aperture receiving said screw, a platform carried by and pivoted to said traveler for swivel movement and means for operating said shaft to raise and lower said platform.

3. In apparatus of the character described, an upright guide member, a screw parallel with said guide member, a traveler having an aperture end of said post and having its axis receiving said guide member and having a laterally positioned threaded aperture receiving said screw, said traveler having a pair of transversely positioned laterally extending spaced arms, a vertical'pivot pin supported by said arms, a platform, a rigid arm for suspending said platform from said traveler and one end thereof having a yoke with aligning apertures to receive said pivot pin, and manually operable means to rotate said screw to raise and lower said traveler and platform carried thereby.

4. In a device of the character described for use with a bath tub, a vertical post, a vertical screw extending parallel and substantially coextensive with said post in spaced relation thereto, a lower guide member mounted on said post and apertured to receive said screw, a laterally extending mounting rigidly secured to the upper end of said post and apertured to receive and provide an upper guide for said screw, a traveler surrounding and slidably mounted on said post, said travelerhaving a threaded aperture to receive said screw, a platform swivelably connected to said traveler for positioning in the tub, a shaft rotatably supported on said mounting, connecting said shaft and said screw, and manually operable means for rotating said shaft to raise and lower said traveler and platform.

JOSEPH A. SCHEUTZ. 

